Packing for piston rods



May 14, 1940. WHlTE 2,200,760

PACKING FOR PIsToN RDS Filed Feb. 18, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l a @f7-W51 /NL/f/vro@ A CLARa/VCE WH/rg HAR/ew, K/cH, FosrfR 6c HA RR/s May 14, 1940. Q wHn-E 2,200,760

PACKING FOR PISTON RODS Filed Feb. 18, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 /66 f/ 7 /G/ /63 F 45 /GO p84 63 /67/65 /66 ,G4 la 33 36 76 'f 6! as da /64 ma. M5 da /00 A rro @N5 Vs.

Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlCE 12 Claims.

This invention is an improvement over the ordinary type of metallic packing and is especially designed for packing the piston rods of slush pumps for use in the oil well drilling industry; and its object is to provide an efficient packing which will maintain a Huid-tight seal around a member such as a reciprocating piston rod, or in someinstances a rotatable shaft under all conditions of service and be self compensating for l wear.

Slush pumps used in the oil industry for pumping rotary mud to the bottom of the well being drilled usually comprise a steam cylinder and a e mud cylinder, axially aligned, the piston in the i mud cylinder being reciprocated by the piston in the steam cylinder, and the piston rods of the respective pistons being connected by a remov-` able joint centrally between the respective cylinders. Thus the packing embodying the features l of my invention can be applied and renewed, when necessary,` without pulling the pistons and rods from the cylinders in order to do so.

An object of the invention is to provide a pack` ing for such piston rods, valve stems, rotatable i shafts, and the like, of a simple and reliable construction, which comprises a minimum of parts that will form a fluid-tight joint around mov 'able shaft rods extending outwardly from acylinder wall, or other chamber in which pressure is maintained during operation, and automatiu cally adjust itself to compensate for wear, and which is adapted to have suiiicient vibratory movement to compensate for any lateral vibra- `tory play of thepiston rod, stem, or other movable shaft, whereby a fluid-sealing joint will be maintained between the wall of the chamber or cylinder and the movable shaft or rod, whereby `objectionable binding of the parts is prevented.

Various embodiments of my invention are shown in the alternative forms thereof described in the accompanying drawings, all of which include the feature permitting the sealing means to allow lateral movement of the shaft or rod while maintaining a fluid-tight seal between the shaft or rod and the interior of the chamber or cylinder, as above mentioned. e

It'vis another object of my invention to provide a packing device including a shell surrounding `a piston rod or movable shaft extending outwardly through a wall of a cylinder or chamber in which fluid pressurev is maintained, together with means for attaching the shell to the cylinder wall, spring compressed sealing means within the shell sealing the space between the shaft-and the shell,` and passage means communicating between the interior of the cylinder and the e interior of the shell, whereby the lmedium under pressure in the cylinder is utilized to assist in forcing the sealing means into sealing engagement with the rod or shaft and the interior wall of the cylinder or chamber. l

` Other objects and novel features will be disclosed in the` following part of the specification and the structural details and mode of operation thereof will be fully explained in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a standard type of slush pump utilized in oil well drilling operan tions, this view having portions broken away to showthe arrangement of the packing means for e the mud cylinder of the slush pump which embodies the features of my invention.

` Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the packing member and a portion of the end cylinder wall of the pump, shown in Fig. 1.

Fig.` 3 is a fragmentary section taken as indicated by the line 3---3V of Fig. 2. f

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken as indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. 25

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through an alternative form of packing member embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through an alternative form of the packing member and a portion of the end cylinder Wall, but including an auxiliary spring forcing the sealing member against the outer `end wall of the shell to augment the force of the fluid under pressure from the interior of the cylinder to form an efficient seal.

Fig. '7 is a vertical section through another form of packing member which includes means for delivering fluid or lubricant under pressure from the exterior of the shell rather than from the interiorof the cylinder to force the sealing 40 means into sealing engagement with the piston rod or shaft and the walls of the shell.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through another form of thedevice similar to that shown in Fig. 7, but which is particularly designed for rotary shafts and is provided `with meansfor preventing vrelative rotation between the sealing means and the shell. Y

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken as indicated 50 by the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 isa vertical section through an alternativetype of packing member showing a sealing means-conned by the attachment means securing the shell to the Wall of the cylinder or lil connected. to a rod I4 extending through the end eter than the bore 2 I.

l numeral I I.

chamber in addition to spring compressed packing means engaging the shaft.

Fig. 1l is a vertical section taken through the outer end of the packing member sho-wn in Fig. l0, as indicated by the line II-Il of Fig. 10.

Referring to Figs. l toi of the drawings, I show in Fig. l a slush pump of a type used in oil well drilling` operations, generally indicated by the The pump has a reciprocating piston i2 in a mud cylinder I3, the piston I2 being wall I5 of the mud cylinder and in turn connecting with a piston (not shown), which reciprocates in Va power cylinder I9, for reciprocating the piston I2 in the mud cylinder. n

The packing member embodying the features of my invention, and generally designated by lthe numeral Il, includes a shell I8 which surrounds the rod i4, the shell being formed in two parts, an inner part I9 and an outer part 20. The inner part is dimensioned to be seated snugly in a bore 2i in the end wall i5 ofthe mud cylinder and'has a shoulder 22, preferably receivable in a recess 23, formed in the outer surface of the end cylinder wall I5, and having a larger diam- A gasket 24 is interposed between the shoulder 22 and the wall forming the, recess 23 in` sealing engagement therewith.

The outer part?) ofthe shell I8 is provided with a ange 39 through which stud bolts 3l extend and which connect with the end wall I5 of the cylinder I3 in the manner` shown, there being nuts 32 threadedly engaging the bolts 3| in contact with the ange for urgingbothvtlhe inner and outer parts of the shell towards the wall I5.

The outer part 29 of the shell I8 is provided with an annular rearwardly extending sleeve portion 95 surrounding the outer end' 3b of the inner part I9 and provides a recess' 3'I'r forming a shoulder in which is provided an annular seat 38 for a resilient ring 39 formed of rubber. or the like, which is compressed in the seat 99 by the outer end of the inner part I9 as a result of the inward threading of the nuts 32 on the stud bolts 3l.

Disposed within the outer part 20 of the'shell i9 is aA tubular member 45 which is of such diameter as to provide an annular space 95 between the interior wall 4l of the shell I8 and the tubular member 95, substantially as shown. Formed on the inner ended of the tubular mem ber d5 are a plurality of projections 449 which extend radially outward from the tubular memmeans, is a sealing member 5l formed of compressible material which has a tapered surface 5t of such configuration as to seat on the. tapered I posed lrearwardly of the channelA -59, substantially in the manner shown. The sealingL member 5l' is provided with an annular rib 65 which extends into the channel 59, and an inwardly extending peripheral ange v99 which abuts the shoulder 60 of the tubular member 95. In the preferred embodiment, the annular passages 46 form a continuation of an 4annular peripheral depression IB formed in the sealing member which depression ends a short distance inward from the outer end thereof, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

The bore 'I5 of the tubular member 95 termi nates at the outer end thereof in an vinwardly tapered surface 19. Disposed within the bore 15 of the tubular member 45 is a plurality of packing,r members 'II having annular surfaces 18 tapered toward the outer periphery thereof, the tapered surfaces i9 of the outer packing meniber bearing against the inwardly tapered surface 'F6 `of the tubular member 45 substantially as shown. In the preferred form of the invention, the packing members Il are formed of follower B9 is a compression member 88 which` also is provided with radial projections 89, the outer surfaces 99 of which are slidable within the bore 5I of the inner part I9 of the shell IS, so as to provide passages 9|v which communicate with the passages 84 in the follower Bil and the annular space surrounding the `tubular member, through the passages 5t formed in the inner end of the tubular member 45. In the. preferred embodiment of my invention, the outer surfaces.

99 of the projections of the compression member 88 are arcuated to facilitate lateral play of the shaft It, as shown.

Confined between the inner end wall of the inner part I9 of the shell I9 and the com pression member 89, is a compression spring 99 provided for the purpose of compressing the packing members il into` engagement with'the tapered surface 'I6 of the tubular member, andy which through the medium` of Vthe tapered surfaces of the spacer 'I9 and the tapered surface of the follower 39 serves to compress the packciprocating piston rod I9 in sealing engagement.

In practice the inner wall 95 of the inner part I9 of the shell I8 is provided with an annular groove 98 in which the spring 96 is seated, and each of the radial projections 89 of the compression member 89` isl provided with a notch 99 in which the opposite end of the spring 9Bv is seated, to maintain axial 'alignment of the spring. 4' l As shown in the drawings, it is intended that the inner wall 95 of the inner part I9 of the shell'IB be provided with -a bore I9@ oflarger diameter than the reciprocating rod I i so that the fiuid from within the cylinder i3 may have` access tothe space t6 ,between the tubular member l5 and the shell I9 through the bore |90, the passages`v 9I, and the passages 89 and 52.

In thek operation of the embodiment of y the in; i

f ing members 1'5 against the surface of the renection with the form disclosed in Fig. 5.

vention shown in Fig. 2, it will be clear that the `fluid from the interior of the cylinder I3, which the tapered surface 56 of the outer end wall of the shell I8. y

In addition to the sealing engagementbetween the sealing member 51 andthe wall 56 of the shell, the spring 96, with the cooperation of the pressure member 88 and the packing follower 80,

serves to compress the packing members 'I'I into sealing engagement with the reciprocating rod I4 to prevent leakageof the fluid Within the cylinder I3 between the rod I4 and the packing members TI. l i

With reference to the alternative embodiments of my invention, I show in Fig. a different type of packing member than that disclosed in connection with' the form previously disclosed. For convenience, numerals identical with those used in the previously described form are used in conthis form of the invention, I show a packing means disposed inthe bore of the tubular member 45 which comprises a pair of packing members |25, the first of which has an annular ini wardly V-shaped groove |26 in the inner wall thereof, and the second of which has an outer end `I2'I formed to substantially fit the V-shaped groove |26 of the first packing member, the rst packing member being compressed against the tapered end wall 56 of the shell I3, as in the embodiment described before, and being pressed into sealing engagement with the reciprocating rod I4 by the compressionspring 96 similar to the manner discussed in connection with the previously described form of the invention.

In this form of the invention, Fig. 5 in addition to the compressive action of the spring 96, the reduced diameter bore 5| of the inner part I9 of the shell I8 is shortened so that the inner ends |28 of the projections S9, similar to those described above, abut an annular shoulder |29 formed within the bore 5| substantially as shown.

It will be seen that in that form of the invention portrayed in Fig. 5, I do not depend entirely upon the compression spring 56 to press the packing members into sealing engagement with the inwardly tapered surface 56 of the outer part of the shell I8 and the rod I4, these packing members being in part initially compressed `by the threading action of the nut on the stud bolt 3|. However, if wear or fatigue should occur in the packing members, the spring 96 is intended to compressthe packing members independently of the stud bolt 3| so that no leakage will occur during normal operation.

Preferably,` in connection with the form of packing just described, the bore |30 of the tubular member 45 is tapered outwardly so that the inner end |3| of the bore is of larger diameter than the outer end thereof adjacent the end wall I6 of thetubular member, which facilitates the sealing engagement between the packing exterior periphery of the tubular member 45,`

functioning to augment the fluid pressure from `the interior of the cylinder to force the sealing' member 5l' into fluidtight engagement with the surface 58. In this type of the invention a cam follower |55 is provided with a conical surface,

as shown, which under the inuence of the spring 95 assists, in conjunction with the pressure from the interior of the cylinder, in compressing the packing member |54 into sealing engagement with the outer end of the tubular member 45 and the rod I4. M

`In Fig. 7 I show an annular space |60 between the annular member 45 and the outer end 20 of the shell ll' which is sealed from the interior of `the cylinder by a resilient sealing member |6| carried on the rearward endof the annular member, and which is seated in a recess |62 formed in the outer end surface |63 ofthe inner part of the shell I'I, substantially as shown. Confined withinithe tubular member 45 is a pair `of packing members |64 separated by a conical faced spacer |55 having radial passages "|66 therethrough which communicate With ports |67 formed in the tubular member 55,` substantially in the manner shown. Threaded into the outer end 25 of the shell Il is a tube |63 provided for the purpose of introducing as a sealing means a lubricant'under pressure into the space |60 between the tubular member 45 and the outer `part 20 of the shell.

In other instances the tube |68 may be utilized to introduce a plastic sealing material into the space |65 and through the ports |51 into the interior of the tubular member to ll the space occupied by the packing members |55 and the spacer |65. s

As shown, this embodiment also includes the "outer arcuate surface provided on the pressure carrying the sealing members similar to the sealing members 5i' and I5I of Fig. 7 and which confines the packing members |54 of this form which are identical with the packing members of Fig. 7.

Still another form of the invention is shown in Fig. l0. In this form an alternative type of sealing means is provided in the form of an elongated resilient member Ilsll disposed between the outer part of the shell Il and a tubular member IBI, theouter end of the elongated resilient member |85 being seated in a notch |82 in the outer end Wall of the shell I'I, and the resilient member |30 being provided with inwardly eX- tending annular flanges |83 and |84 formed adjacent the outer and inner ends of the member |50 which extend into annular grooves |85 and |66 formed in the tubular member I8 l. As shown in the drawings, the resilient member |80 prefere `ably abuts the outer end surface ofthe inner part of the shell Il, whereby sealing engagement is attained by the threading action of the nut 32 on the stud bolt 3| to seal the space between the inner and outer parts of the shell and. likewise the space between the outer end wall of the shell I'I and the tubular member IBI In practice the resilient member |30 is` provided with longitudinally extending grooves I9 provided for the purpose of adding resiliency to the material, substantialiy as indicated in Figs. li) and ll.

It is likewise intended that this form of the invention include packing members similar to the packing members of Figs. 5 and 6 and that the pressure member urged outwardly by spring means be provided with an arcuated annular periphery to allow lateral twists of the rod Ni of the pump. It should be understood that the sealing member il, being of resilient material such as rubber, will allow lateral movement or twist of the rod lli and still maintain the sealing F; engagement between the inner and outer parts of the shell il.

I have herein described the features of my inventionand have illustrated the invention in several practical forms. However, it should not be assumed that I intend to be limited to the disclosure of this application, but intend the scope of the invention to be interpreted by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a piston rod packing of the character described, the combination of t a shell surrounding said rod, said shell being attachable to a wall of a cylinder through which said rod extends; a wall at the outer end of said shell formed to provide an inwardly tapered annularr surface; a tubular member within said shell of vsuch diameter as to provide an annular space between the interior wall of said shell and said tubular member; a sealing member of compressible material carried on the outer end of said tubular member and having a 'tapered face formed to seat on said tapered surface of said shell; compressible packing members in the interior of said tubular member in contact with said rod; a follower engaging said packing members for compressing the same into sealing engagement with said rod; and a compression member associated with resilient means for forcing said follower against said'packing members, said follower and said compression member being formed to provide passages communicating between said annular space and the interior of said cylinder whereby the medium under the internal pressure of said cylinder may exert a force on said sealing member to press the same against said tapered surface of said shell.

2. In a piston rod packing of the character described, the combination of a shell surrounding said rod, said shell beingl attachable to a wall. of a cylinder through which said rod extends, said shell having a peripheral wall and an outer end wall; a tubular member within said shell of a size to provide a space between said tubular member and said peripheralwall oi the shell; a sealing member of compressible material `disposed between said outer end wall of the shell and said tubular member; compressible packing members in the interior of said tubular member in contact with said rod; means for compressing said packing members in sealing contact with said rod; and means` forv delivering the medium under pressure within said cylinder to said space surrounding said tubular member whereby said sealing member is compressed against said outer end-wall of said shell in sealing engagement.

3. In a piston rod packing of the character described, the combination of: a shell surrounding said rod and attachable to a wall of a cylinder through which said rod extends, said shell having an outer end Wall disposed at an angle relative to the axis of the' body of said shell; a sealing meansy in the interior of said shell encircling and contacting said rod; means for limiting the longitudinal movement of said sealing means toward said cylinder; a sealing member of resiliently deformable material disposed between said end wall of said shell and said sealing means; -means for conducting fluid under pressure to the interior of said shell, said sealing member having two surfaces on opposite sides thereof engaging said end wall and said sealing means respectively and having a face disposed to have applied thereto the pressure of said nuid in the interior of said shell and adapted to tend to be forced inwardly by said pressure so as to tend to expand the sealing member between said two faces.

4. In a piston rod packing of the character described, the combination of: a shell surrounding said rod and attachable to a wall of a cylinder through which said rod extends, said shell having anvouter end wall and an inner end wall each disposed at an angle relative to the axis of the body of said shell; a sealing means in the interior of said shell encircling and contacting said rod; axially directed spring means interposed between said sealing means and said inner end wall; a sealing member of resiliently deformable material disposed-between said end wall of saidshell and said sealing means; means for conducting iiuid under pressure to the interior of said shell, said sealing member having a nrst face in end thrust engagement with said sealing means, a

second face engaging said end wall and a third face disposed to have applied thereto the pressure of said fluid in the interior of said shell and adapted to tend to be forced inwardly by` said pressure so as to compress said sealing member against said outer end wall.

In a piston rod packing of the character described, the combination of: a cylindrical shell surrounding said rod and comprising inner and outer parts, said inner part being insertabie in a bore in a wall of a cylinder rthrough which said rod extends and having an inner end wall, said outer part being attachabie to vsaid cylinder wall and having an outer end wall formed to provide an inwardly tapered annular surface; sealing means between said inner and outer parts of said shell; a tubular member within said shell of such diameter as tor provide an annular space between the interior wall of said shell and said tubular member; ya sealing member of compressible material carried on the outer end of said tubular member and having an annular tapered face formed to seat on said tapered surface of the outer part of said shell; compressible packing members within said tubular member in contact with said rod; means for compressing said packing members in sealing contact with said rod; and means for delivering the medium under pressure in the cylinder into contact with said sealing member to compress said tapered annular face of said sealing member into sealing engagement with said inwar ly tapered annular surface of said outer part of said shell.

6. In a piston rod packing of the character described, the combination of: a shell surrounding said rod and attachable to a wall of the cylinder throughwhich said rod extends, said shell having an outer end walland an inner end wall "each disposed at an angle relative to the axis of the body of said shell; sealing means in the interior of said shell encircling and contacting said rod and comprising inner and outer compression rings and compressible packing therebetween; a sealing member of resiliently deformable material disposed between said end l ly intermediate portion of said shell adapted to" urge said ring outwardly; and spring means between said inner ring and said inner end wall.

'1. In a piston rod packing of the character described, the combination of: a shell surrounding said rod and comprising inner and outer parts, said inner part being insertable in a bore` in a wall of a cylinder through which said rod extends, and said outer part being attachable to said wall of said cylinder and having an outer end wall; a tubular member within said shell of a size to provide a space between said tubular member and the inner peripheral wall of said shell; a pair of sealing members formed of a `compressible material carried by said tubular member within said shell and respectively engaging said outer end Wall of said outer part of said shell and the outer end wall of said inner part of said shell in sealing engagement therewith; compressible packing members within said tubular member in contact with said rod; means for `compressing said packing members; and means for delivering a fluid into the space between said tubular member and said peripheral wall oi said shell to force said sealing members into sealing contact with the walls of saidshell.

8. In a piston rod packing of the character described, the combination of: a shell surroundi ing said rod and attachable to a wall of the cylinder through which said rod extends, said shell having an outer end wall disposed at an angle relative to the body of said shell; a seal-` ing means in the interior of said shell encircling and contacting said rod; a bearing ring slidably mounted on said rod and engaging the inner surface of the bore of said shell in a` manner to engagement with said'sealing means.

9. In a piston rod packing, the combination of: a rod; a cylinder wall through which said rod passes; an inner shell surrounding said rod; a

iirst compressible sealing means between said inner shell and said cylinder wall; van outer shell surrounding said rod; a second compressible sealing means between-said inner and outer shells; packing around and contacting said rod; an outer compression member between said packing and said outer shell, the inner end of said compression member having an end thrust contact with said inner shell; a third compressible sealing means disposed longitudinally between said outer compression member and said outer shell; bolt means for clamping together said outer shell and said cylinder Wall; an inner compression member abutting said packing;rand a spring interposed longitudinally between said inner compression member and said shell, the several said elements of said piston rod packing being shaped and assembled to provide passage means within said inner and outer shells adapted to conduct the fluid medium under pressure within said cylinder into compressive relationship with said third compressible sealing means.

10. In a piston rod packing of the character described, the combination of: a shell surrounding said rod and attachable to a wall of a cylinder Y through which said rod extends, said shell having an outer end wall vdisposed at an angle relative to the axis of the body of said shell; a sealing means in the interior of said shell encircling and contacting said rod, said sealing means being formed adjacent its outer end with an annular groove, opening circumferentially outwardly; means for limiting the movement of said sealing means toward the cylinder; means for conducting fluid under pressure to the interior of said shell; and a sealing member of resiliently deformable material disposed between said end wall of said shell and said sealing means, said sealing means being formed `with an annular ridge extending inwardly and cooperatively seated within said groove and being further formed with a face engaging the end wall of said shell and a face disposed to have applied thereto the pressure of said luid and adapted to tend to be forced inwardly by said pressure so as to force said sealing member against said outer end wall.

ll. In a piston rod packing of the character described, the combination of: a shell surrounding said rod and attachable to a wall of a cylinder through which said rod extends, said shell having an outer end Wall disposed at an angle relative to the axis of the body of said shell; a sealing i means in the interior of said shell encircling and contacting said rod, comprising inner and outer `compression rings and compressible packing therebetween; means for limiting the movement of said inner compression ring toward said cylinder; a sealing member of resiliently deformable material disposed between said end wall of said shell and said outer compression ring, having a first face engaging said outer end wall, a second face having end thrust engagement with said outer compression ring and a third face eX- posed to the interior of said shell; means for conducting a fluid under pressure to the interior of said shell for application to said third face, said sealing means being provided with passageways for the movement of said uid under pressure to that portion of the surface of said rod contacted by said sealin-g means. l

12. In a piston rod packing of the character described, the combination of: a shell surrounding said rod and attachable` to a wall of the cylinder through which said rod extends, said shell having an outer end wall disposed at an angle relative to the body of said shell; a sealing means in the interior oi' said shell encircling and contacting said rod; a bearing ring slidably mounted on said rod and engaging the inner surface of the bore of said shell in a manner to permit both a longitudinal sliding and a rocking i motion of said sealing means with respect to said 

